Method and apparatus for unspooling cable

ABSTRACT

The subject method and apparatus for unspooling cable provides a spool cradle with a substantially rectangular shape formed by parallel spaced side walls and parallel spaced end walls. Roller assemblies are mounted on opposite end walls of the cradle and, preferably, one roller assembly is adjustable with respect to relative spacing between roller assemblies to accommodate spools of different sizes. A support frame assembly receives a plurality of spool cradles when the job requires multiple cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. The Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for unspooling cable and, in particular, to a wire spool cradle having a plurality of rollers for supporting a wire spool

[0003] 2. The Prior Art

[0004] There has been a problem on job sites in dealing with pulling cable from spools to the desired locations. Typically a spool has been mounted on a rod clamped between adjacent studs. This is not always convenient. It also is difficult to move the rod to other locations and/or to change out the spool in order to access different cable.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 1,902,611 to Blackman et al discloses a carrier for wire reels, wherein the reel B is rotatably supported by a pair of contact rollers 1, and centered by castors 10. See FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,205 to Misrach discloses a cable reel support having a plurality of rollers for supporting the cable reel. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,801 to Douglas discloses a support for cable drums having a set of rollers which are rotatably engaged with the drum's flanged ends. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,106 to Rider discloses a stand for holding and dispensing filamentary material from reels, wherein the reels are supported on rollers. See the Abstract and FIG. 1

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,928 to Lassiter discloses a portable rack for holding and dispensing wire stored on spools. The spools are supported by the rack through the use of contact rollers. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1 and 8.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,220 to Lassiter discloses a portable rack for supporting a number of wire spools to be dispensed. The spools 18, 20 are rotatably supported by pair of rollers 14, 80 which contact the end flanges of the respective spools. End rollers 46 serve to keep the spools centered. See the Abstract and FIGS. 1, 2, and 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The subject method and apparatus are specifically for dispensing and installation of “spooled” electrical/data/wire/cable. This includes, but is not limited to, Romex nonmetallic cable, Cat 5 Catv, and Thhn cables. The invention has a spool cradle with a substantially rectangular shape and at least four equally spaced feet. Pairs of roller assemblies are mounted at opposite ends of the cradle and at least one roller assembly is adjustable to accommodate spools of different sizes. A multiple spool embodiment supports a plurality of spool cradles in a support frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spool holder of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the subject invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of an alternate embodiment of the subject invention in a multi cable handling tower; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is a vertical section through the multicable tower of FIG. 4, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, the subject invention has a substantially rectangular cradle 10 having spaced side walls 12, 14, and inclined end walls 16, 18 and supported by integral legs 20, 22, 24, 26 depending from the respective corners thereof. Roller assemblies 28, 30 are mounted at each end of the cradle 10. Each roller assembly, referring only the assembly 28 shown in section in FIG. 2, has, in this embodiment, an elongated bolt 32 which passes through holes 34, 36 in the side walls 12, 14 of the cradle 10 and through an intermediate support 38 and is secured in position by a nut 40. The support area 38 is larger on one end of the cradle than on the other end for reasons that are explained below. A pair of rollers 42, 44 are mounted on the bolt 32 in the spaces 46, 48 between the side walls 12, 14 and the intermediate support 38. Each roller is preferably molded from urethane with a cylindrical outer surface 50, 52 having a flange 54, 56 on the outer end thereof An axial bore 58, 60 receives permanently sealed bearings 62, 64, 66, 68 at opposite ends thereof

[0019] As an alternative to the elongated bolt 32 illustrated, it would, of course, be possible to use shorter bolts (not shown) which pass through the respective side walls and are received in the support area 38 in any known fashion. Further, it may be more economically feasible to make the cradle 10 in various sizes rather than make one size with adjustment holes 74, 76, thereby eliminating the need for making on site changes.

[0020] A spool 70 is placed in the subject cradle 10 and the cable 72 pulled therefrom with the spool freely rotating on the pairs of rollers 42, 44.

[0021] The subject invention can be adjusted for spool size by relocating the roller assembly 28 at one end of the cradle 10 by placing the respective bolt 32 in one of the adjustment holes 74, 76 provided in sidewalls 12, 14.

[0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternate embodiment of the subject invention as it could be used to handle multiple cable spools. The stand 78 has a base 80 supporting spaced side arms 82, 84 which extend vertically from the base 80. Parallel spaced transverse supports 86, 88, 90 span the space between the side arms 82, 84. The cable cradles 10 are modified to accept suspension arms 92, 94 fixed to respective side walls 12, 14 of each cradle 10. Each arm 92, 94 has an upper end 96, 98 profiled to engage a respective transverse support 86, 88, 90 to suspend the cable cradle 10 therefrom. The lower end 100, 102 of each suspension arm 92, 94 is profiled to be attached to the cable cradle by any known means (not shown), such as bolts, screws, interdigitaing engagement, etc. The subject cable cradles can optionally be further modified to remove the legs 20, 22, 24, 26. The stand 78 can further be provided with auxiliary support arms (not shown) to prevent the stand 78 from accidently being pulled over. This also could be accomplished by stabilizing arms (also not shown) which would extend from the base and be locked in position. Since the stand 78, particularly if loaded with spools of cable, would be quite heavy, it could further be provided with wheels (not shown) and/or a carriage (also not shown) for easy transport of the assembly.

[0023] This embodiment of the present invention would be used by simply suspending a plurality of modified cable cradles 10, each holding a specific cable for the job site, from the stand 78. The cables would then be pulled as needed without the craftsman having to be concerned about dragging great lengths of cable or the cables snagging.

[0024] The subject invention relates specifically to the dispensing and installation of spooled electrical/data wire/cable. This would include, but is not limited to, Romex Nonmetallic Cable, Cat 5, Catv, Thhn. The subject invention is able to accommodate a wide variety of cable/wire spools.

[0025] The unique cradle design of the subject invention keeps the spooled Cable/wire from hanging-up or tangling. This allows the user to pull cable without worrying about the cable hanging up or requiring the use of a helper to monitor the cable coming off the spool.

[0026] The open design of the subject invention allows for simple, quick, and easy spool changes, either when the cable runs out or there is a requirement for a different type of cable.

[0027] The use of pre-existing “skatewheels and bearings” for the roller assemblies 28, 30 allows frictionless dispensing of various size spooled Cable/wire. This makes installation easier and allows the user to utilize multiple spools with little to no resistance.

[0028] The subject invention is totally portable, thereby eliminating the need to park a truck or van close to the job site or rig-up a pull station in one area.

[0029] The use of pre-existing components allows for easier manufacturing, warranty replacement, reduces tooling costs, and reduces consumer cost which helps in the marketability of the tool.

[0030] The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof The present embodiment should therefor be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims. 

I claim
 1. A method for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable comprising the steps of. providing a spool cradle having a substantially rectangular shape with a pair of parallel spaced side walls and a pair of parallel spaced end walls, at least four equally spaced feet depending from the corners of said cradle, and pairs of roller assemblies mounted at opposite ends of the cradle spanning between said side walls; placing said spool cradle at a job site location; loading a spool of cable onto said cradle and pulling the cable therefrom with the spool freely rotating in the roller assemblies.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein one roller assembly being adjustable along said side walls to accommodate spools of different sizes.
 3. An apparatus for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable comprising: a substantially rectangular spool cradle having parallel spaced side walls and parallel spaced end walls; a roller assembly mounted on said end walls of the cradle with, each said roller assembly having an elongated bolt passing the width of said cradle between said side walls, a pair of rollers mounted spaced apart on said bolt, each said roller having a cylindrical outer surface with a flange at one end thereof and an axial bore with sealed bearing means fixedly mounted at each end of said bore, whereby a spool of cable can be readily placed on said cradle, supported on said roller assemblies and dispensed by pulling the cable causing the spool to readily rotate on said roller assemblies.
 4. An apparatus for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable according to claim 3 further comprising integral leg means depending from the respective corners of said spool cradle.
 5. An apparatus for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable according to claim 3 further comprising: aligned holes in one respective end of said side walls whereby one of said roller assemblies is adjustable with respect to the spacing between it and the other roller assembly to accommodate spools of different sizes.
 6. An apparatus for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable according to claim 3 further comprising: a support assembly having a base, a pair of spaced vertical side arms and a plurality of spaced, horizontal support bars spanning said side arms; and each said spool cradle having means to suspend it from a respective horizontal support arm.
 7. An apparatus for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable according to claim 6 wherein said support assembly further comprises: stabilization means attached to said support assembly to prevent it from overturning during use.
 8. An apparatus for dispensing and installing spooled electrical/data/wire/cable according to claim 6 wherein said support assembly further comprises: wheeled carriage means attached to said support assembly providing ease of relocation of the assembly.
 9. An apparatus for dispensing and installing multiple spooled electrical/data/wire/cables comprising: support stand means having a base member, a pair of parallel spaced side arms extending vertically from said base member, and a plurality of transverse support means parallel spaced spanning between said side arms; a plurality of substantially rectangular spool cradles having parallel spaced side walls and parallel spaced end walls, roller assembly means mounted on said end walls of the spool cradle, and means attached to said side walls for suspending said spool cradle from a respective transverse support means of said support stand, whereby a spool of cable can be readily place on said spool cradle, supported on said roller assemblies and dispensed by pulling the cable causing the spool to readily rotate on said roller assemblies.
 10. An apparatus for dispensing and installing multiple spooled electrical/data/wire/cables according to claim 9 wherein: each said roller assembly has an elongated bolt passing between said side walls the width of said spool cradle, a pair of rollers mounted spaced apart on said bolt, each said roller having a cylindrical outer surface with a flange at one end thereof and an axial bore with sealed bearing means fixedly mounted at each end of said bore. 